Bonz
Newbie
- Messages
- 2
If you are using a standard Fender USA Stratocaster neck for your Warmoth project, be aware that Standards and Specials are different sizes. I have built five custom Warmoth Stratocasters for personal use and for custom orders and have discovered that the Fender USA American Special necks are wider at the heel than American Standards. Your Warmoth body comes with the pocket milled for a USA American Standard NOT an American Special. There are lots of American Specials out there as they tend to sell for a little cheaper used. These are the ones with the larger 70's style headstock. Everyone thinks they are the same dimensions, but after 5 Stratocaster builds (3 Special neck, 2 Standard neck) I can confirm that the American Special is wider than the typical pocket. It is easy to accommodate the larger heel, but be warned about the following if using an American Special Strat neck:
(1) You will need to widen the neck pocket on a Warmoth body using a sand paper and a flat object, sanding a bit off either side.
(2) It is easy to damage the finish using a sanding block as tiny bits of the body edge can come off.
(3) Once widened for an American Special neck, you can't install an American Standard neck on that Warmoth body as it can move very slightly.
So if you want a Warmoth project that you can change necks on in the future, go with an American Standard Stratocaster neck. If you prefer the jumbo frets and slightly thicker neck of an American Special, just be prepared to do some sanding.
(1) You will need to widen the neck pocket on a Warmoth body using a sand paper and a flat object, sanding a bit off either side.
(2) It is easy to damage the finish using a sanding block as tiny bits of the body edge can come off.
(3) Once widened for an American Special neck, you can't install an American Standard neck on that Warmoth body as it can move very slightly.
So if you want a Warmoth project that you can change necks on in the future, go with an American Standard Stratocaster neck. If you prefer the jumbo frets and slightly thicker neck of an American Special, just be prepared to do some sanding.
